Valve mechanism for lavatory apparatus



-2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. W. HALE. VALVE MECHANISM FOR LAVATORY APPARATUS. No. 524,989 Patented Aug. 21 1894.

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(N o Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

. J. W. HALE.

VALVE MECHANISM FOR LAVATORY APPARATUS.

Patentd Aug. 21, 1894.

1: news PETERS m mo-rou'nio" WASH 2 place and taken apart.

3 5 efiective.

UNITED STA-Tits PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES WHITE HALE, on NEwB RYPoRT, MASSACHUSETTS.

IVALVEI M ECHAN [GM to a LAVATO RY APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Fatent No. 524,989, dated August 21, 189 4; 7 Application filed December 29, 1893. jstrialno. 495,036. mama.)

5 and useful Improvements in Valve Mechanism for Lavatory Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

The present improvements relate to that class of wash-basins, bath-tubs, and Similar o vessels, wherein the outlet valve or stopper is operated from beneath by connection with a push-knob above the slab or frame surround= ing the basin or tub. The class of devices referred to is illustrated, for example, in Lottors-Patent of the United States No. 439,818,

granted to me November.4,.1890, and No; 484,423, grantedto me October 18, 1892.

The objects of the present improvements are to furnish a lavatory valve mechanism z'o which Shall be sanitary and cleanly, which shall leave the interior of the lavatory vessel unobstructed, which shall be simple and et- ,t'ective in operation, which shall not get out of order, and which can be readily put in The valve mechanism is constructed throughout to eliminate places where dirt and foulmatter may lodge and accumulate, so that the lavatory vessel provided with it shall be cleanly and sanitary. The

0 only portion of the valve mechanism within the lavatory vessel is the valve itself which is a fiat disk having a simple vertical rise and fall to empty and close the vessel. The operation of the valve is extremely simple and As far as the user of the vessel is concerned, there are only two parts to the valve mechanism which are accessible, the valve itself and a manipulating knob therefor. i The manipulating knob has a simple I 0 vertical rectilinear movement, and no other.

It is moved up to close the valve and moved down to open the valve. The valve and knob thus have two principal operative positions and they maintain themselves securely in any 5 position in which they may be placed. The

the contents of the vessel, or to twist or turn it to enable the valve to be held open. And

' HO-manipulation of the parts which are accessible can injure the valve mechanism or get it out of order. 1 Hence as far as the users are concerned the mechanism has the extremest simplicity of construction and mode of operation. These circumstances render the improved mechanism particularly applicable to hotels, railwaystations, and other places frequented by thepublic. Likewise, as far as the plumber isconcerned the valve mechanism is simple in construction and operation and it canbe taken apart and put in place readily even by a person wholly ignorant of its construction without danger of injury to the valve mechanism. 1

Inorder to enable the construction and mode of operation to be understood, the improved valve mechanism will be shown and described as applied to an ordinarystationarywash basin.

The improvements are illustratedin the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1, isa vertical section through a wash basin to which the improved valve mechanism isshown attached for the purposes of illustration, the valve mechanism being shown inside elevation. Fig.2, is a vertical 'section through the valve, the outlet tube which passes through the basin constituting the waste outlet thereof, and the coupling connecting the same to the waste pipe. Fig. 3, is ahorizontal section in a plane indicated bythe line 3-3 in Fig. 2. Fig. 4, is a plan view of the coupling.detached from'the basin or bowl. Fig. 5, is a side view of the valve detached. Figs. 6, and7, are detail views or therock-shaft and crank arm which actimmediately upon the valve. Fig. 8, is a detail view of the end of the connecting rod which is connected with the said rock-shaft. Fig. 9, is a vertical section through the handling mechanism. Fig. 10, is a cross-section thereof. Figs. 11, and 12, are detail views of the washer. Fig. 13, is a detail view of the gripper. Fig. 14, is a detail sectional view of the terminal nut constituting the housing for said gripper. A,is the wash-basin of a usual and wellknown type, having waste outlet a, overflow holes I), and overflow passage B leading from the overflow holes to the overflow outlet 0 beneath and in line with the waste outlet in. a wellknown manner. The basin is secured beneath the usual slab S, in any usual or wellknown manner.

0, is the outlet tube extending through the waste outlet at; D, is the valve having its stem within the tube E, is the coupling surrounding the outlet tube and connecting it with the waste pipe; F, is the valve-operating connecting-rod; G, is the manipulating rod of the handling device, having operating knob djand H, is the exteriorly screwthreaded guide-sleeve for said manipulating rod, which extends through a hole in the slab S and is secured to said slab by a flange e and a nut f. All of these parts, except as hereinafter specified, are similar to corresponding parts in my. said Patent No. 484,423.

The outlet tube O,;has a flange g which fits in the bottom of the basin around the same.

in diameter than the overflow outlet andthe coupling E, so that an. annular outlet passage fortheoverflow is formed independent of the waste passage for the contents of the basin, the result being that unclean water from the basin can not back up into the overflow pas.- sage and foul the same. The construction in this respect is the same as in Letters-Patent of the United States No. 451,324, granted to me April 28, 1891.

The tubular stem 2' of the valve D, fits and slides vertically within the outlet tube 0,. ex.- tending a considerable distance below the The valve proper is a. fiat disk-like valve above the. outlet tube. 0, within the basin, which co-operates with the flange g of the outlet tube, said flange g constituting the valve-seat. The co-acting facesofthe flange, g and valve D, are ground true, so as to provide a ground joint. The valve is integrally connected with its tubular stem by postsjj, so that openings are provided for the passage of water into the interior passage of the tubular stem 1'. The main body of the tubularstem fits. within the outlet-tube C, so asto be guided thereby, but it hasa contracted portion immediately below its upper edge, and its lowerend is shaped relatively to the in: nor surface of the outlet tube 0 so as to constitute ways or channels Z Z which extend from the annular space (formed between the valve stem and the outlet tube 0 by the contracted port-ion) downwardly below the lower edge of the outlet tube. These ways Z Z are preferably formed by slicing off portions of the outer periphery of the valve stem. The object of the annular space is and of the. ways l is to prevent the lodgment between the outlet tube and the valve -stem of any grit or other foreign substance which would interfere with the free movement of the valve. Any grit or other matter which might pass the upper full-sized portion m of the valvestem and hence find its way between the outlet tube and the valve-stem, would be washed down through the space 70 and ways Zinto the waste pipe. The space 70 and ways I might be formed by properly shaping the interior of the outlet tube, either alone or in conjunction with the illustrated valve-stem, but preferably the bore of the outlet tube is smooth and the space and ways are formed in the outer surface of the valve-stem. The improved valve-stem'differs in its self-cleaning aspect from the valve-stem of my said Patent No. 484,423, by reason of the presence of the upper-guide-portion m which excludes the passage of grit and other foreign materials between the valve-stem and outlet-tube, and also in its, specific construction.

Thevalve-stexnhas avertical guide-slot n, which is entered by a radiallyprojecting guide-stud I, which. is. carried by the coupling E and projects inwardly from the inner surface thereof. The guide-stud I, is removable from the coupling, and for this purpose has a screw-threaded shank (passing through the wall of the coupling) and a. milled head.

This guide-studl, and the guide-slot n, permit the free vertical, movementof the valve while preventing any rotation, of. the valve whenin use, an important feature. as'will hereinafter appear. .The p-resentimproved valve-stem differs in, this, respect from the. valve-stern of my said Patent No. 439,818, by reason of the fact that the. guide-slot a. is

open at the bottom. It theguide-slot n were not thus open at the botto.m, it wouldbe necessary to first unscrew the guide-stud I far enough to clear the valve-stem before the off, for cleaning the usual trap or for otherpurposes, they neglect to unscrew thestud I,

and consequently injurev the. mechanism. With the present improved construction however, the coupling can be freely unscrewed without paying any attention to theguidestud I.

Adjacent to the, guide-slot n, the valve-stem is provided with a hook, J, having a retaining notch 0. The outer plane p of the hook is flush with the lowest portion of the valvestem from which the guide-slot, n extends. From this planep, the, lower edge of the valve.- stem inclines upwardly to the highest, plane q of the notch 0, so thatthe lower edge of the valve-stemis a cam. The purpose of this construction will hereinafter appear.

The coupling E, is formed witha chambered or hollowed box or extension K, communicating with the interior of the coupling and located opposite the lower edge. of the valve stem when the valve is closed. This box K, has an. outwardly and horizontally projecting boss L, interiorly screw-threaded, into which screws thebearing sleeve M, of the rock-shaft N This rock-shaftN extends horizontally,

coupling.

and it carries at its inner end an interiorlyprojecting operating crank-arm O, the free end of which extends into and across the coupling E, to beneath the edge of the valvestem most remote from the box K, so that the maximum leverage is obtained with the minimum projection of the box K from the The free end of the crank-arm 0, curves upwardly and is provided with a latorally-projecting curved, flange or hook P,

which engages the hook J of the valve, ex-.

tending into the retaining notch 0 thereof. Consequently when the rock-shaft N, is oscillated the crank-arm O raises and lowers the valve D, the action being positive in both directions. The curved shape of the hook P accommodates the curved motion of the cranksarm O to the rectilinear movement of the valve D. Since, when the parts are in operative position, the .hookP engages the hook J and thevalve is prevented from rotation by the stud. I, the valvecan not be lifted out of the basin by thecasual user orby anyone ignorant of the construction. If, however, an initiated person wishes to' remove the valve,

allthat is necessary to be doneis to partially unscrew the stud I until it clears the slot at.

The valve D, can then be turned until the hooks J, P, are cleared from each other, when the valve can be lifted out. To replace the valve it is sufficient to simply drop it into'position and turn until it stops. In turning, it Will stop only when itis turned in the proper direction, which will cause the cam or inclined lower edge of thevalve-stem to ride on the hook P until the hookJ engages there: with, whereby the rotation is stopped. When so stopped the slot n is in register with the stud I, which can then be screwed in to lock the valve from accidental or willful removal. The presence of the cam or inclined lower edge insures the proper co-action of the hooks J, P, and hence the correct register of the slot 'n, and stud I. The mouth of the slot n is of less width than the width of the upper face of the hook P, so that the latter can not enter said slot.

The bearing sleeve M, has on its inner end an annular flange rhavinga central circular opening through which the rock shaft N passes, said flange thus constituting a portion of the bearing for said shaft. Inside of the box K, the shaft N has an annular flange s between which and the flange r an elastic packing-rim g or washer Q, of leather or other suitable material, is interposed. The valveoperating connecting-rod F has a hub twhich is fastened to and fits over a reduced outer portion of the rock-shaft, and this hub enters and occupies the outer portion of the bearing sleeve M, so that the forward part of said sleeve also serves as aportion of the bearing for said shaft Surrounding the shaft N,

within the sleeve M, is a coiled compression spring R, which bears against the flange 'r and the hubt and thereby forces the washer Q, against the flange 1* thus preventing any leakage at this point.

The connecting-rod F is rigidly fastened to the rock-shaft by a key T, having a screw shank u and a (preferably tapering) head '12.

The threaded aperture to for the shank u is in the connecting-rod terminates at a shoulder 0c. The key T,' consequently not only serves the purpose of holding the connectingrod rigidly upon the rock-shaft, but it also serves to force the connecting-rod into place against the resilience of the spring R, since,

if the connecting-rod is not fully on the rockshaft when the key T is inserted, the head of the key comes in contact with the shoulder w, and on being further inserted it forces the connectingrod in against the force of the spring until said shoulder w is flushwith the end portion of the rock-shaft in which the aperture to is formed. The tapering of the key-head and of the socket U, enables a rigid connection to bemade between the connecting-rod and rockshaft at all times, and compensatesfor wear. .t t

By having the boss L, for the bearing-sleeve M, project outwardly from the box K, instead of inwardly as in my said Patent No. 484,423, and by inclining the rear wall V, of the box K, the box is reduced to minimum dimensions so as to afford as little space as possible for the lodgme nt of dirt.

The manipulating-rod G where it passes through the guide-sleeve H, has a rigid projecting stud g, which is always located (when the valve mechanism is in place) within-a rectilinear way W in the guide-sleeve, so that the rod G is prevented from rotation and is capable of rectilinear movement only. Near its lower end the rod G carries also two projecting prongs X, X, which are preferably connected together and adjustably held upon the rod G by a set screw ,2. This adjustment is desirable only when the valve mechanism is to be putin place to accommodate the same to different sizes of bowls and thicknesses of slabs. When the valve mechanism is in place, the prongs X, X,are for all operative purposes rigid component parts of the rod G.

Between these prongs is located the free end of the connecting-rod F,the fit beingas close as the accommodation of the oscillating move ment of the rod F to the rectilinear movement of the rod- G will permit, so that there is little lost motion. Since the rod G has a rectilinear movement only, there is no liability of disconnecting the rod F from the IIO prongs, X, X, in using the valve mechanism.

Fitting and screwing upon the lower end of the sleeve H and embracing the manipulatingrod. G, is. a terminal nut Y, which when screwed home upon the sleeve H has an annular; chamber 21 beneath. said sleeve.H,,sur-

rounding the rod G.v The terminal nut has. a.

diameter of the, rod G, so, that when forced. upon the rod-lit clamps thesame with a spring This: gripper 'Z', is; heldv within the chamber 21 from longitudinal movement with pressure.

the manipulating-rod Gr.v When,- therefore,

the. rod G- is meved either up. or downzthe gripper Zxholds it; securely in place,- and con-.- sequently thevalveD is held either opener-- shut as the oasermayabei. Asthe result, there, fore, of thegeneral.arrangemeutof the; valve mechanism, the. valve;- and its. manipulating 4 rod (which areltheonly: parts. insight-.oracr" cs'sibletothe user ofitherbasin), have each a rectilinear meYement,-. and thevalve-is heldv 6lthQI"-Op,elf'01jShl1l7.1 'IuthiS-Wa-y- I. avoid the, necessity-ofusing the; valve-closing: spring, a andthe. bayonet. joiutopcrating inconnemtion-withthe, rotary/movement. of th nipulatin-g rod to .holdthe valve, open, of my Patent-No. 484,423. The user has simply to push, or pull the knob ofthemanipulatingrod.'

Towprevent; the manipulating rod being pulled, up violently so. far asto. bend the, connecting-rod, it is provided with an adjustable stop-collar122, secured by a set screw 23 be-. low the terminal nut Y. Thisstop-collar is located so as to permit the valveD to close.

tightly, but should the rod-G be then pulled upward. the collar 22:: would. come in contact with the terminal nut. Y before the connectingrod 1 F could be bent. enough elasticity toinsurea tight'closingofthe valve before the collar 22. acts to stop the upward movement of the rod G.

To enable the rod G, and sleeve. H wit-hv their various accessories to be placed in po-. sition on the slab. and to be removed therefrom without necessitating the removal of the Then to. enable the sleeve H to be fastenedv to the slab S, by the flange e and nut f, the

The rod. F- has;

the sleeve, is held firmly in place. To enable. the washer to be held. firmly in pl-ace,.it has on its upper surface a projectingcurvedrib or flange. 27, extending through the. arc. of a. circle concentric with they slab aperture 24:, and; of a size to. fitthereim. Consequently when thejflange 27, is; within the aperture 24 the washer cannotbe. removed as long as the nut fiisin its lock-ingzposition; The washer 25 has also aprojecting handle 28 whichenables itto be easily manipulated and'whic-h is turned: back out of the. way, as; shown in Fig. 1, toenable. a wrench to beapplied to the nulrf.

To removethe entire valve, mechanism, all that they plumber haste dois tonnscrew the :nu-tf far. enough toremove.- the-washeri 2.5.. i The. manipulating-row G, sleeve, H, and: all the parts asscciatedtherewith' can be turned ,to disengage. the.;pro-ngs X. from the rodF,

and can then be. liftedoutof; the way. Then by: simply unscrewing the,v coupling E; it. toagether withv the valve. D. and outlet tube 0. are; entirely disconnected froma each other and-can be removed. The-valve: mechanism pis hence simple'asfarvas. thepluinbjen is Q0111 corned;- 7 a I .cla-i-mwas ray-invention.-

1. V The combination .ofzltheroutlet. tube, the. valve having;ait ubular stem fitting. and .slidsing within said '-.0.l1l116l2; 12l1b.8, .the adjacentisun faces. 0f said este mnand. tube. .beingrrelatively jshaped to provide, aguidingfit; between themw'ajt the upper part of said zvalve-stem, .an an, nu-lar' recessbelow said. guiding fit, a. guide ;in g .fit. beneath said. annular recess and lwaysc 1 or channels leading from said annular recess .to below said outlet .;fOI'l7]1'.

a The combination. of: the outlettube having a. smooth interior bore, and the-valve-having atubular: stem within, said outlet tube, lsaid stem havingan upper andsa lower portion fitting said t.ube,a contracted middle portion forming. an annular chamber-between vsaid stem and tube, and longitudinal ways leading from said contracted portion to below said tube, substantially as set. forth.

3. The valve with a'stem having a hook, said valve having. a vertical movement in opening and closing,;in combination with the operating device for said valve having a hook engaging said hook on the valve-stem, the hook of said operating device moving in the same direction as said valve'and said hooks being engagedfand disengaged by rotating said valve-stem, substantially as, set forth. 4. The valve with a stem having a hook, saidv valve having a. vertical movement in opening'and closing, in combination with a rock-shaft, and a crank-arm thereon having a vcurved hook engaging said hook on the valvestem, said hooks being engaged and disengaged by rotating said Valve-stem, substantially as set forth.

tube, substantially. as set 5. The valve having a tubularvalve-stem having a cam-shaped lower edge terminating in a hook and having a longitudinal guideslot with an open mouth at said lower edge of said stem, and an adjustable guide-stud for engaging said guide-slot, in combination with an operating device for said valve having a hook upon which the lower cam edge of said valve-stem rests and which engages the hook on said valve-stem when said guide-slot registers with said guide-stud, the width of said slot being less than the width of said hook of the operating device, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination of the shaft, a hub fitting over said shaft, and the screw-key connecting the same and preventing the rotation of said hub upon said shaft, said screw-key screwinginto an eccentric threaded aperture located wholly in said shaft, substantially as set forth.

7. The shaft, and the h ub fitting over said shaft, said shaft with said hub havinga socket eccentric to the axis of said shaft, said socket being partly in said shaft and partly in said hub, in combination with a screw having a head fitting in said socket and a screw shank entering an eccentric threaded aperture wholly in said shaft, substantially as set forth.

8. The shaft and thehub having an eccentric tapered socket partly in said shaft and partly in said hub, in combination with a screw-key having a tapered head fitting in said socket, and a screw shank entering an eccentric threaded aperture wholly in said shaft, substantially'as set forth.

9. The shaft, the rod or arm having an eccentric socket partly in said shaft and partly in the hub 'of said rod or arm, and a spring tending to separate said shaft and rod or arm, in combination with a screw key having a head fitting in said socket and seating against the bottom of the part of said socket in said hub, and having a screw shank fitting in an eccentric threaded aperture wholly in said shaft, substantially as set forth.

10. The guide-sleeve having a rectilinear guide groove, and the connecting rod, in combination with the manipulating rod within said guide-sleeve having a fixed stud traveling in said rectilinear guide-groovewhereby said manipulating rod has when in operation a rectilinear movement only, said rod having two rigid prongs between which said connecting-rod is located and by which it is moved in opposite directions, and a frictional gripper acting upon said manipulating rod, substantially as set forth.

11. A lavatory vessel, its slab or frame, the valve for the discharge outlet of said vessel having a rectilinear movement only in opening and closing, the manipulating rod for said valve having a rectilinear movement only, and intermediate connections between said valve and rod, said intermediate connections being located wholly outside the vessel and beneath said slab or frame and being connected with said valve beneath the said discharge outlet, in combination with a frictional gripper acting upon said manipulating rod for holding said valve and rod in their several positions, substantially as set forth.

12. A lavatory vessel, its slab orframe, the valve for the discharge outlet of said vessel having a vertical movement onlyin opening and closing, the manipulating rod for said valve having a vertical movement only, said rod being accessible above and extending beneath said slab or frame and wholly exterior] to the said vessel, and a lever located outside said vessel and beneath the same and said slab or frame and connecting the lower ends of said valve and manipulating rod, in combination with a frictional gripper surrounding said manipulating rod and acting upon the same to maintain said valve in its difierent positions, substantially as set forth.

13. The slab or frame having an aperture, the guide-sleeve extending through said aperture, and the locking-nut for said sleeve smaller than said aperture, in combination with a washer larger than said aperture, said washer having a slot which slips over said sleeve between the locking nut thereof and said slab or frame, substantially as set forth.

14. The slab or frame having an aperture, the guide sleeve extending through said aperture, and the locking nut for said sleeve smaller than said aperture, in combination with a washer larger than said aperture,said' washer having a slot which slips over said sleeve between the locking nut thereof and said slab or frame, said washer having upon its upper face a curved rib or flange capable of entering said aperture and surrounding said sleeve, substantially as set forth.

15. The slab or frame having an aperture, the'guide sleeve extending through said aperture, and the locking nut for said sleeve smaller than said aperture, in combination with a washer larger than said aperture, said washer having a slot which slips over said sleeve between the locking nut thereof and said slab or frame, said washer having a downwardly projecting handle,substantially as set forth.

16. The guide-sleeve H, having locking nut f and terminal nut Y, and the manipulating rod G, having stop collar 22 with set-screw 2d, and prongs X, X, with setscrew z, in combination with the frame or slab having an aperture 24 larger than said parts on said sleeve and rod, and the-washer 25, having slot 26 which slips over said sleeve above said nut f, curved rib 27 which fits in said aperture 24:, and handle 28, substantially as set forth.

7 In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES WHITE HALE.

Witnesses:

CHARLOTTE E. HALE, LUCY B. HALE.

ICC 

